A big part of what determines the level of our faith is the kind of attitude we adopt.
When I took on a paper route, I delivered a free community newspaper once a week. Every week when I pulled into this one driveway to throw a paper to the front door, I would read the same bumper sticker: “YOU CAN’T ALWAYS BELIEVE WHAT YOU ARE THINKING.” I would think, “What does that mean?”
I’m the kind of a person who keeps thinking about things and then wonders, “Why am I thinking this way?” There were quite a few times when I thought I had analyzed a situation correctly only to later find out my thoughts were a misperception. As time went by, the bumper sticker began making more sense to me.
The relationship between thought patterns and attitude
I realized my attitude depends on my thoughts. Sometimes my attitude is negative and in the wrong place because my thoughts are wrong. We all have this problem at times to one degree or another. After all, we’re still human and far from perfect.
I remember Mr. Herbert Armstrong saying Satan easily influences our attitudes when he “broadcasts” his own (Ephesians 2:2). I’m sure Satan would like to keep us in a bitter state of mind. We have to fight against that attitude. I know that if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us and protect us from Satan’s influence (James 4:7-8).
Even God has an attitude, but His is a positive attitude! His influence leads us to have more positive attitudes of our own.
The relationship between attitude and faith
When I get into a negative attitude, I notice that it diminishes my faith. I end up complaining and thinking of things in the wrong spirit.
You can read in Numbers 13 about God sending Israelites to spy out the land of Canaan. Most of the spies had a pessimistic outlook. They lacked faith because their attitudes were wrong. They weren’t close to God at all.
In Numbers 14, we see that the fear and pessimism were contagious, infecting most of the Israelites. The Israelites whined and complained and the Lord was very unhappy with them.
Only two of the spies had positive attitudes—Joshua and Caleb:
“But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: ‘The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them’” (Numbers 14:6-9).
We see that wrong thoughts led to wrong attitudes, which led to a lack of faith. As a result, none of the adults over age 20 were allowed to go into the Promised Land. The only exceptions were Joshua and Caleb.
A remedy for lack of faith
Jesus asked, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8).
In that context, Jesus told a parable about a persistent widow which explains that persistence in prayer shows faith plus a good attitude, which further strengthens our faith. Jesus said, “And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily” (Luke 18:7-8). When we pray and expect answers, we get answers!
Here is the definition of faith: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Hope is certainly a positive attitude that leads to faith!
We should have an attitude while praying that God is for us, standing firm in our faith and being willing to do what God wants us to do without complaining. We need to keep looking forward to the promises that await us, keeping that big picture in mind. God never lies and will never let us down.
Standing firm
But when things aren’t going as well as we think they should be, it’s so easy to allow negative attitudes to start creeping in. Then our faith that God will provide us with “the way of escape” begins to dwindle (1 Corinthians 10:13).
If you begin to think that all hope is lost, you had better check your attitude. If the attitude level is down, the faith level will be down.
If you find yourself getting into a negative attitude, follow Paul’s admonition: “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
When you have God’s Spirit and you align your attitude with these things, you can believe what you are thinking.
Further reading
To learn more about how to develop good thought habits, a positive attitude and dynamic faith, request our free booklet You Can Have Living Faith.
